Ash tray device



June 23, 1970 J. E. GILBERTsoN 3,516,232

` ASH TRAY DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 196e 2 sheets-sheet 1 4me/vzw' June 23 1970 J. E. GILBER'rsoN 3,516,232

, ASH TRAY DEVICE Filed Feb. s. 196e 2 Sheetsheet 2 United States Patent 3,516,232 ASH TRAY DEVICE .lohn E. Gilbertson, 3209 Douglas Ave., Des Moines, Iowa 50310 Filed Feb. 5, 1968, Ser. No. 703,133 Int. Cl. B01d 46/10 U.S. Cl. 55--385 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An ash tray device including means for 'filtering the smoke produced by cigarettes or cigars which are placed in the ash tray. A housing including a fan means is positioned over or adjacent to the ash tray and is designed to draw the smoke through a filter means to purify the same. An air freshener or deodorizer means may also be placed in the housing to further treat the smoke. One embodiment of the invention utilizes a light-bulb positioned in a housing over the ash tray which causes a draft through the housing thereby inducing the smoke to pass through a -filter means in the housing.

The smoke which produced by cigarettes, cigars, etc., when placed in an ash tray, is generally offensive to most persons and it is desirable to eliminate the same if possible.

Therefore, it is a principal object of this invention to provide an ash tray device including means for filtering the smoke produced by cigarettes or the like placed in the ash tray.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray device including a fan means positioned in a housing above or adjacent to the ash tray adapted to draw the smoke through a ilter means to purify the same.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray device having a fan means associated therewith which is activated by a heat responsive element.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray device including a filter means and an air freshener or air deodorizing means associated therewith.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray including a fan means adapted to draw the smoke through a filter means, the fan means being powered by either batteries or other source of electrical energy.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray device including means for filtering smoke which may be adapted to automobile use.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray device including means for filtering smoke which automatically extinguishes cigarettes placed in the ash tray.

A further object of this invention is to provide an ash tray device including means for filtering smoke which is economical of manufacture, durable in use and refined in appearance.

These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

This invention consists in the constiuction, arrangements, and combination of the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set folth, specifically pointed out in the claim, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of the device, with portions thereof cut away to more fully illustrate the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view as seen along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional View as seen along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the electrical circuitry of the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4;

lFIG. 6 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 i-s an enlarged sectional view as seen along lines 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a perspective View of a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view as seen along lines 9-9 of FIG. 8.

The embodiment of the invention seen in FIIGS. 1 and 2 is generally designated by the reference numeral 10 while the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is generally designated by the reference numeral 12. The embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 is generally designated by the reference numeral 14 while the embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is generally designated by the reference numeral 16.

With respect to the embodiment seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the device 10 includes a base portion 18 having a removable ash tray 20` positioned on the upper surface thereof. An arm 22 extends upwardly from one side of base 18 and is provided with a battery compartment 24 formed therein as best illustrated in FIG. 2. Battery compartment 24 is adapted to receive batteries 26 and 28 which are maintained therein by a suitable cap 30` having a spring means 32 at the irmer side thereof which maintains the batteries 26 and 28 in electrical contact with each other and maintains battery 26 in electrical contact with a contact 34. Wires 36 and 38 are electrically connected to contact 34 and extend upwardly through arm 22 in a bore 40 which terminates in a movable switch element 42 to which the wires 36 and 38 are electrically connected.

The housing 44 is secured to the upper end of arm 22 and is positioned directly over ash tray 20 as illustrated in FIGS. l and 2. An electrical motor 46 is mounted in the interior otf housing 44 by means [of braces 48- and has a fan means 50 mounted on its power shaft 52. Motor 46 is connected to switch element 42 by means of wires 54 and 56 extending therebetween through bore 58. A spring means 60 is detachably secured to the lower end of housing 44 and supports a filter means 62 positioned immediately thereabove. Preferably, filter means 62 is comprised of a suitable charcoal material and the filter means y62 may be removed from housing 44 by simply removing screen means 60 from the lower end of housing 44 and by removing filter means 62 from the interior of housing 44. If desired, screen means 60 can be omitted by providing suitable means for securing the iilter means 62 to the housing 44. The motor 44 is activated by simply moving switch element 42 thereby supplying electrical energy to motor 46 from the batteries 26 and 28 which causes fan means 50 to draw air upwardly thrgough the spring means 60, filter means 62 and through the housing 44.

The ash tray device 12 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is comprised of a circular base housing 64 having an annular channel 66 formed therein at its central upper portion thereof as best illustrated in FIG. 4. A circular shoulder 68 is disposed in the bottom of a compartment 82 in communication with the channel 66 and extending downwardly thereform. A plurality of exhaust bores 70 are in communication with the lower end of compartment 82 and extend radially outwardly thereform through the housing 64 as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A screen 72 is positioned above the lower end of compartment 82 and supports a filter means 74 immediately thereabove. An annular wall 76 is positioned above filter means 74 and is provided with a central opening 78. If desired, screen 72 and iilter means 74 can be detachably secured to the lower end of the annular wall 76. An upstanding hub 80 extends upwardly from the upper portion of wall 76 and its interior forms a part of compartment 82 in communication With opening 78 as illustrated in FIG. 4. The hub 80 is provided with a plurality of openings 84 formed therein to permit the passage of air therethrough. A motor 86 is positioned within the hub 80 by means of a support 88 and has a fan means 90 secured to its power shaft 92. As seen in FIG. 4, fan means 90 is mounted in the compartment 82 and is designed to draw the smoke into the interior of hub 80 by means of the openings 84, thence downwardly through opening 78, through the filter means 74 and screen means 72, thence outwardly through exhaust bores 70. An air vane shield 94 is positioned above the upper end of hub 80 and is secured thereto by means of a bolt 96 extending therebetween. A circular heat sensing element 98 is positioned on the upper surface of the wall 76 and extends around the lower end of hub 80 and is electrically connected to the motor 86 by means of a wire 100. Motor 86 is connected to the batteries 102 in compartment 104 formed in the housing 64 by means of a wire 106. Batteries 102 are connected to the heat sensing element or switch 98 by means of a wire 108 extending through bore 110. Heat sensing switch 98 is normally open as indicated in FIG. but the heat from the burning tobacco such as cigarettes 112 will cause the switch 98 to close thereby activating motor 86 inasmuch as the circuit is then completed through the batteries 102 as indicated in FIG. 5.

The ash tray device 14 illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7 includes a base portion 114 having a removable ash tray 116 mounted thereon. A housing 118 extends upwardly from base portion 14 at one side thereof and has an opening 120 formed in the upper end thereof and an opening 122 formed in the front side thereof. A bore 124 is formed in housing 118 and extends between the openings 120 and 122 as best illustrated in FIG. 7. A screen means detachably closes opening 122 and has a filter means 128 positioned immediately therebehind as viewed in FIG. 7. A motor 130 is mounted in bore 124 and has a fan means 132 secured to its power shaft 134. Motor 130 is connected to batteries 136 and 138 mounted in compartment 140 by means of wires 142 and 144. Compartment 140 is closed by a cap member 146. A shield 148 is secured to the forward side of housing 118 and extends outwardly and downwardly thereform as illustrated in the drawings. As seen in the drawings, shield 148 is positioned over opening 122 and extends outwardly over a portion of the ash tray 116 to aid in the directing of the smoke through the screen openings 126 and filter means 128. The activation of motor 130 by the switch 150 causes fan means 132 to draw the smoke through the screen means 126, filter means 128 and upwardly through bore 124 and outer opening 120'.

The ash tray device 16 illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 includes a base portion 152 with a recessed portion 154 formed in the upper central area thereof. A plurality of ash trays 156 are detachably mounted in recesesed area 154 and are each provided with a curved inner wall 158 so as to dene a central open area 160 as illustrated in FIG. 8. Housing 162 is positioned above area 160 and is secured to base portion 152 by a plurality of legs 164 as best illustrated in FIG. 9. A conventional light bulb 166 is mounted in the interior of housing 162 by means of support 168 and is electrically connected to a cord member 170 as indicated in FIG. 9. A filter means 172 is mounted in the upper end of housing 162 and is supported therein by a support member 174 as illustrated in FIG. 9. Filter means 172 may be comprised of a charcoal material and may be impregnated with suitable deodorizing material, air freshening material, incense, etc.

-Each of the embodiments of this invention illustrated in the drawings have a common feature, that is, to purify the smoke being produced by cigarettes in the ash tray. In the device 10, the fan means 50 draws the smoke from the cigarettes upwardly through the filter means 62 and thence upwardly out of the housing 44. In the device 12, the heat from the cigarette 112 will cause switch 98 to close thereby energizing motor 86 which causes fan means to draw the smoke through the openings 84, thence through opening 78, thence through iilter means 74 and outwardly through bores 70. When the cigarettes are put out or are extinguished, the heat in the ash tray will diminish thereby causing the switch 98 to open thereby deactivating motor 86.

The ash tray device 14 draws the smoke from the ash tray through the filter means 128 and upwardly through bore 124 and outwardly through opening 120. In ash tray device 16, the heat from the light bulb 166 will cause the draft to move upwardly through the housing 1162 thereby inducing the smoke to pass upwardly through the housing 162 and through the iilter means 172 thereby purifying and treating the air. Preferably, light bulb 166 is used in the embodiments seen in FIGS. 8 and 9 but if not used, the heat from the cigarettes will tend to create an upward draft through the housing 162.

*In each of the embodiments seen in the drawings, the smoke from the cigarettes is passed through the lter means comprised of charcoal or the like thereby purifying the same so that no visible smoke is seen to be discharged on the exhaust side of the filter means. Additionally, the filter means disclosed in these embodiments can be supplemented with air deodorizing materials, air freshening materials, incense or the like if it is desired to additionally treat the air passing through the respective devices. The ash tray devices 10, 12 and 14 have been described as utilizing batteries but it can be appreciated that the batteries could be eliminated as simply utilizing volt A. C. current.

The devices disclosed herein also aid in extinguishing the cigarettes which are placed in theash tray due to the fact that the fan means causes the air to be drawn away from the cigarettes which decreases the available oxygen adjacent thereto so that the cigarettes will extinguish themselves due to the lack of available oxygen. While the devices described herein are ideally suitable for use on a table or the like, it can be appreciated that the concept disclosed herein could be used in conjunction with a vehicle ash tray or the like. Additionally, the devices illustrated herein could be incorporated into Ia desk unit having other electrical apparatuses attached thereto if so desired.

While the embodiments described herein are ideally suited for use as ash trays, it should also be noted that the ltering systems can be employed without the ash trays included therein. For example, the device 10, without the ash tray 20, can be used on a desk or the like to constantly lter and purify the air in an oifice or room.

Thus it can be seen that the devices accomplish at least all of their stated objectives.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of -my ash tray device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it 5 is my intention to cover by my claim, any modified discharged out through said housing exhaust opening forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents which to the atmosphere. may be reasonably included within their scope.

lclaim; References Cited 1hAr1 ashhtra y unitcmprising: t d 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS a ouslng avmga o om suppor en an ash tray in said housing and having a center up- 2 Shalner et al "1 2042-318 standing hub portion and a concentric channel ex- 2369375 2/1945 Sra y 31?). SX tending substantially therearound, 2709209 6/1954 Somlltagb 1 279 said upstanding hub portion having a plurality of open- 10 2709209 6/1955 tali en 'urlg 'T 13 36 ings formed therein around its peripheral surface, 27 48 A? er qt a 337' 407 X said upstanding hub portion having a compartment 7 50 12/1956 Zlccardl 337-*415 therein, said compartment having an outlet, 2788085 4/1957 Waller 55-385 X a fan means and a filtering means mounted in said sg 559-8385115 compartment, said housing having an exhaust opening placing said lo 3217715 11/1965 Bergr et al 55"`387 X outlet of said compartment in communication with 3360790 12/1967 Rosslio 131-231 X the atmosphere, and, 3,430,551 4/ 1969 Hauvllle 98-115 an air vane shield is positioned in spaced relationship FOREIGN PATENTS above said hub to provide an annular passageway 20 616,690 1/1949 Great Britain.

around sald hub thereby upon activation of fan 4means smoke from burning tobacco adapted to be DENNIS E- TALBERT, IR Primary Examiner placed in said ash tray will be filtered by being drawn Us Cl X R directly from said ash tray through said annular passageway, through said plurality of openings in said 25 55-3871 467;,93-115; 13l-238 337*293- hub and into said compartment whereupon it is 

